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Strive Masiyiwa

Founder and Executive Chairman , Cassava Technologies
,United Kingdom
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Strive Masiyiwa's Overview

Total Experience109 years
CompanyCassava Technologies
CountryUnited Kingdom

Strive Masiyiwa is a highly influential Zimbabwean-born London-based billionaire businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is the founder and executive chairman of Econet Global, a diversified international telecommunications, media, and technology group with operations and investments in Africa, Europe, South America, North America, and the East Asia Pacific Rim. Masiyiwa is renowned for his pivotal role in pioneering mobile telecommunications in Africa, overcoming significant regulatory and political challenges to launch Econet Wireless Zimbabwe in 1998 after a landmark five-year legal battle. Beyond his extensive business ventures, he is a dedicated philanthropist, co-founding the Higherlife Foundation with his wife Tsitsi, which has provided scholarships and support to hundreds of thousands of orphaned and vulnerable children across Africa. He is also a prominent voice on issues of African development, entrepreneurship, and governance, actively mentoring young Africans through various platforms, notably his widely followed Facebook page, and serves on several global boards, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and formerly Netflix.

Professional Summary

Strive Masiyiwa's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:

Cassava Technologies - Founder and Executive Chairman (2021 to Present)
Econet Group - Founder and Executive Chairman (1993 to Present)
Higherlife Foundation - Co-Founder (1996 to Present)
Netflix - Non Executive Director (2020 to Present)
Gates Foundation - Member Board Of Trustees (2022 to Present)
National Geographic - Member Board Of Trustees (2019 to Present)
Bank of America - Global Advisory Board (2019 to Present)
Unilever - Non Executive Director (2016 to 2024)
African Union - African Union Special Envoy, COVID-19 Response (2020 to 2022)
The Rockefeller Foundation - Member Board Of Trustees (2003 to 2018)

Notable Achievements

Founder and Executive Chairman of Econet Global

Established and leads Econet Global, a pan-African telecommunications, technology, and renewable energy group, significantly contributing to Africa's digital transformation, connectivity, and access to financial services.

Pioneer of Mobile Telecommunications in Africa

Successfully challenged state monopolies through landmark legal battles to launch mobile services in Zimbabwe (Econet Wireless in 1998) and subsequently expanded operations to other African countries, democratizing access to telecommunications for millions.

Co-founder of Higherlife Foundation

Co-founded with his wife Tsitsi Masiyiwa, this foundation has impacted millions of lives by providing education scholarships, healthcare access, crisis relief, and sustainable livelihood opportunities, particularly for orphaned and vulnerable children across Africa for over two decades.

Influential Philanthropist and Mentor

Recognized for his extensive philanthropic work, including being a signatory of the Giving Pledge. He actively mentors millions of young entrepreneurs across Africa through his popular Facebook platform, sharing invaluable insights on business, ethics, and leadership.

Champion for African Development and Governance

Actively involved in various international boards and initiatives, such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, and co-founding the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), advocating for good governance, food security, and sustainable development on the continent.

Fortune Magazine's World's 50 Greatest Leaders

Named multiple times to Fortune Magazine's list of the 'World's 50 Greatest Leaders' (e.g., 2014, 2017, 2021) for his business acumen, philanthropic efforts, and impact on Africa.

Educational Background

Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, Engineering

Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd

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Notable news
Hiring actively
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Corporate Finance

Company Overview

Cassava Technologies
Total employees10001
HeadquartersLondon
Founded2021

Cassava Technologies is Africa’s first integrated technology company of continental scale, focused on enabling social mobility and economic prosperity for individuals and businesses across the continent. Their comprehensive suite of digital solutions includes fibre broadband networks (via Liquid Intelligent Technologies), data centres (via Africa Data Centres), renewable energy, cloud and cybersecurity services, fintech (via Sasai Fintech), and on-demand digital platforms (via Vaya Technologies). Cassava aims to accelerate Africa's digital transformation by providing critical digital infrastructure and services.

Cassava Technologies Funding Information
not applicable - Total Funding Raised
$50M - Most recent funding amount
not applicable - Number of funding rounds
20 Jul, 2022 - Latest funding round
Lead Investors:
Econet Global
C5 Capital
Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
International Finance Corporation (IFC)

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